Machinery used in producing foil capsules for bottles and containers



March 23, 1954 D. E. RAILTON MACHINERY USED IN PRODUCING FOIL CAPSULES FOR BOTTLES AND CONTAINERS Filed April 1'7 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet l March 23, 1954 D. E. RAILTON ,672,79 MACHINERY USED IN PRODUCING FOIL CAPSULES FOR BOTTLES AND CONTAINERS Filed April 17, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 23, 1954 RA D. E. MACHINERY USED IN PROD FOR BOTTLES AND CONTAINERS Filed April 17, 1950 ILTON UCING FOIL CAPSULES 9 Sheefs-$heet 3 March 23, 1954 D. E. RAILTON 2,672,792

I MACHINERY USED IN PRODUCING FOIL CAPSULES FOR BOTTLES AND CONTAINERS Filed April 1'7, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 58 I 1 90| 1 I- If 149 s mi I E 150 E if 12/ w II II March 23, 1954 D. E. RAMON 2,672,792

MACHINERY USED IN PRO DUCING FOIL CAPSULES FOR BOTTLES AND CONTAINERS Filed April 17, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 23, 1954 D. E. RAILTON 2,672,792

MACHINERY USED IN PRODUCING FOIL CAPSULES FOR BOTTLES AND CONTAINERS 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 17 IIII March 23, 1954 D. E. RAILTON 2,672,792 MACHINERY USED IN PRODUCING FOIL CAPSULES FOR BOTTLES AND CONTAINERS Filed April 1'7, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 March 23, 1954 E RAlLToN 2,672,792

MACHINERY USED IN PRODUCING FOIL CAPSULES FOR BOTTLES AND CONTAINERS Filed April 17, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed April 17, 1950 March 23, 1954 D. E. RAILTON 2,672,792 MACHINERY USED IN PRODUCING FOIL CAPSULES FOR BOTTLES AND CONTAINERS 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 7 h QZJM [WW M the speed and reduce -the Patented Mar. '23, 1954 Meoii'manfif USED IN RODUC NG" Fen, CAPSULES FOR BDTTLES AND com TAINERS Denis EasthopeRailton, East Burnham, England;

assignor of one-half t Slough, England, a B

3 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture *of pleated metal foil-capsules,

These capsules are usuall-yin thesformof a cone, and are made from:metalifoilstrip in an automatic machine which cuts out a'circular blank from the stripand'then makes pleats radially round the periphery -of the blank asit is drawn into shape.

A capsule forming machine for making such capsules is the subject of British Patent No; 409,185.

The pleats may be flattened which involves, under existing practice, the necessity of a sec nd operation in an independent machine to flatten the pleats.

Oneobject ofthis invention is to provide a method and machine capable of combining the metalfoil capsule forming and-pleat smoothing operations in the one machine without; intermediate handling ofthecapsulesp Another object of the inventionis to providea machine which will deliverthefinished metal foil capsule, ;following pleatingand smoothing, and other 0perations as may be required, erg end embossing-in timed sequence,thereby enabling capsules readily to be counted, stacked,-anddelivered in batches. Another object of the invention is to slowdown movement of the foil blanking operation in order to retainacutt'ing edge on the knife. A- -fur ther objectoffthis invention is to utilise a quick return actiononthe operating ram of the mahine so that more capsules can be made in a given time without increasing the speed of forming to provide a cushion drive for the machine and to incorporate a speed reduction gearing. I

Another object of the inventionis to provide a machine with a processinghead capable of receiving a plurality ofcapsules"simultaneously and with which other processing units," e. 'gg" pleat smoothing, printing or adhesive appiyingj ineluding discharge meansfare associatedfo'r per. forming other operations on the pleate'd metal foil capsule.

The invention is illustrated -'in the lawsuits ying drawings in which Figure "1 is 'an elevatiorr 'as seen from its front or delivery end; ofa caps'ule forming machinecapable of forming-, smoothing and end embossing a-capsule in-accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a generalcentral longitudifial section of the machine vieWedfronr-th"left harid side, which" is asection throug- 'the capsulihg matrix being the 'line2- of 'Figure lfldtails of the plunger"a1id"matri ii beingomitted ior cl-earnessfi 0 Ideal Capsules Limited;

ritish' company Abplicatibn-Apriin, 1950, Serial No." 156,251

dicated generalljat Figure 3 is a'longitudinal "section also irom the left-hand side-onthe line 3,-3 of Figure 1 which is asection taken through the smoothing and ejecting rams. i i

Figure 4 is=a rear view showing-the main drive.

Figure ia isaplanaview of the machine, J I

The remainingyiews are on anenlargedscal e,

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the plunger mechanism and its: associated matrix or forming die, the latter being shown in its open position" to giveaccess to 'epmnge A Figure "6 "is a detail front ectiona'l aeration of the rotor operating .znechar'iisrh for' thetable,

Figure? isa detailldngitudiiial sectior'ion the line 1-1 0f"Fig'i1r'e ashowin the spindle for thetab'le. g H

Figure 8 fisfa "modification ofthe mechanism shown inFigurefi. H

Figure "9 is an 'elevational" view "of 'a tool stop plate!" a s Figure 1 I is a fragi'iientary end elevational view of a capsulereceivi'ng cup mounted onthe turntable.

Figure 12 isannxial sectional viewpfthe capsule receiving cup, some part's" being" shdWfiin elevation]: i U

Referring to f the accompanying drawings, the machinepompr'ises a "bed 13 fsupportedon leg's A and having a head-H; in which the capsule form'- ing plunger and-matrix are mounted to reciprocate and provided with an intermittently revolving table T, onto' which pleated but only partly finished capsulesfindica'ted at C (Figure 12) are delivered frorr'ith matrix.- Finished capsules are finally delivered *from theitable on to adelive'ry and -processinjg' unit maicateaat D andconipri's ing a collecting "chute into whic' h predetermined quantities of capsuies ar mae ea head to tail. The delivery unit consists of' a pedestal bracket, detachably fii re'dfto or hingedly mounted on bed B and incorporating a smoothing 'un it' indicated generally at '-F, an fend -embossing,- printing "or like unit andfan 'ejection unit." Foil is'supp'lied from a "standard typebf-feed roll mechanism in- G and: also 'inounted on the machine hea'dHZ Theweb roll'is indicated atrR from which *the' length-of "web 'L is'drawn onby co-'operating"roll'ers.' Driveis 'fromia-motor M at floor level" which may bemounted on one of "the legs Ato a main wheel W freely rotatableon a crank shaft S.

In the machine of this invention; the formation of the capsule'is by 'means-of a grooved plunger "indicated at" "l having ribs '1 thereon which plunger'i-co-operates with an-open ended movement is not shown in matrix proper with theshaping pistons 5,. 6 as will The knifeis'in matrix 2 so that the capsule on being pleated is delivered on the far or open side of the matrix where it is received by one of a plurality of pockets secured to or integral with a plate forming part of the table T, there being five pockets or capsule receiving positions respectively indicated at t in the table. The formation of the capsule is by forcing the blank com: pletely through the matrix, whereas the existing practice in the production of metal foil capsules is to extract the shaped and pleated capsule when withdrawing the plunger at the wide end of the matrix. By increasing the length of stroke of the plunger so that it passes right through the matrix or die, we are enabled to discharge the capsule on the far side where it can be picked up by the delivery unit, provision of which was obviously impossible in existing practice owin to lack of space between-die and plunger. The advantage of this method of operation is that other processing of the foil capsule, e. g. smoothing, embossing and even colour printing can be completed in the one machine whereas previously these operations had to be carried out in separate machines involving additional handling and possible damage to the capsule.

' Blanking and capsule forming operation Associatedwi h h m n plun r i and outer shaping pistons 5, ii. The shaping pistons 5, 6 are capable of movement relatively to the ,plungerl and for this purpose are spring loaded, being mounted on alternately arranged sets of plungers l, ii of which there are three in each set. The plungers l, 8 are concentric with the centre line of the machine and mounted in-the head H. The head If (seeFigures l, 2, 5 and 8)' also carries a matrix plate 5; which is bolted, tothe front end of .fourlarge diameter 'plungers it slidable in bearings H in thefront wall 12 of the head l-l, therear. wall being in dicated at l3. Since the matrix plate, as will be hereinafter described, vcarries the movin part of the cutting knife for cutting out circular blanks from the web of foil, it receives a to and .fro axial -motion with each completestroke of the plunger; -For this purpose, plungersltare fast at:their ends with aback plate M. (Figure 5) or 19' (Figure 8). fro-cutting motion is indicated by the dash and peck lines in- Figure 8 but it should be noted, as will hereinafter be described, that the movement of; the matrix plate 5 is a comparatively short onesince it is nolonger necessary for it to be withdrawn, on completionof the pleating operation,1 from the head H an amount equal to the length of the capsule so as to enable the latter, to drop clear of the matrix on extracting theplunger l, as was formerly the case with the machine-of British Patent No. 409,185. This the Figure 5 emis shown in withto the plunger and bodiment, where the matrix drawniposition to give access fixed part of the knife for apurpose which will matrix plate 9 carries the its shaping faces it, in which are radial pleat forming grooves I5 for cooperation with the pleat fOrmlng grooves 5', 6 on hereinafter be be explained. The

explained.

two portions l6," l8 :andtis annular in shape so aslto outa circular blank. The part l6,'which constitutes the hard orgoutting blade, surrounds'the matrix 2 also:being;mpnnt,-

are inner The extent of this to and the knife has an upstanding ed in the plate 9. Immediately surrounding the knife portion It is a stripper ring H, which as shown is spring loaded being slidably mounted on pins llll against the action of springs Ill. The knife blade proper It) extends slightly outwardly from a base, which is drilled to receive is held in place by a ring I66 having countersunk recesses liil to receive the heads of fixing screws I62. The soft part 18 of lip or rim lllii (Figure 5) within which the sharp Or cutting edge It of the moving knife passes to cut out a circular blank from the length of web L. During cutting of-theblank, the stripper ring ll, which is moving with the matrix plate 9 and its knife part It towards the plunger will engage the circular fiat it! (Figure 5) of the knife part l8 whensprings Ill will exert sufficient pressure on the web to prevent distortion as the blank is cut out. It should be noted that the plunger I takes no part in the initial formation of the pleats in the capsule C, the pleat shaping and forming operation being performed by the annular shaping'pistons 5 and 6 in cooperation with the shaping face 15 of the matrix 2, the grooves 5', 8, respectively, of the shaping pistons engaging the grooves 15, in the matrix 2 with the foil interposed. The plunger l assists in the formation of the pleats in the capsule by drawing the foil into the channels provided by the mating surfaces of the corrugations 5, 5 and l5'-and draws the pleated capsule from the matrix on the side thereof away from the shaping pistons '5 and 6. In order to complete the formation of the pleats in the capsule as it is drawn from the matrix by the plunger I and to prevent any possible deformation thereof, the plunger I is provided'throughout its length with tapered ribs 1' which are'spaced-i to interlock and work coaxially with grooves 15" formed in thethroat of the matrix} and thus exert an ironing effect on the already formed pleats in the capsule as the latter is carried by the plunger through the throat .of the matrix 2 to discharge thecaps'ulef In operation, therefore, as the plunger l is advancedto dis harge thecapsula the ribs I enter the grooves between the/pleats formed in the capsule by the grooves 5', 6 and 15 of the shaping pistons and matrix, respectively. Then, as the plunger advances and passes through the throat of the matrix 2, ,thepleats become more I on the plunger areflformedparallel to the plunger axis lengthwise but are arranged at a small angle to the truly radial position in their depth. The grooves 15" in the throat of the female die'o'r matrix are similarly twisted from their truly radial position to correspond.

It should also be noted that the head of the plunger I has an end diameter corresponding to the top of the pleated capsule C .while at the base of the ribs l the diameter of the plunger l'is' slightly less than the minimum diameter of the'throat of the matrix 2 at the to of the ribs between the grooves I5". I if r 7 It should'be understood that'for the first part of-the forward movement of the plunger I, the shaping pistons 5 and 6- willr move with the plunger, but during the latter part of its movement, the forward movement of shaping pistons after described; to ensure a predetermined spacing from the matrix 2;. When this takes place, the plunger completestheremainder of its stroke alone, during which time it will draw the pleated capsule clear .of matrix 2 to dischargeit.

In the construction shown in Figure 5', the plungersfl are connected at their rear ends to sp'iderarms the latter being forked to engage grooves I9 111.. 13116 plungers, which are formed at their forward ends with elongated slots a forming claws 2 ;to engage in aycircumferential groove 22in the outershaping piston 6; Similarly the plungers. 1 are connected; at their rearward ends to .other but similar Qspider arms 23 andat theirforward ends havejclaws 124 to engage a groove 25 in the inner shaping piston 5. The shaping pistons 5,6 are keyed to, one another bymeansof three ribs. 28 on piston 6 engaging grooves 29in piston 5, the purpose of which is to permit of relative movement between 5; .and 6-. as they advance tomate with the matrix 2 in forming the corrugations. Between the plunger. I, and shaping pistons 5, 6 is a lost motion connectiontoenable the plunger, when the pleatedjcap'sule is formed, to move forward to .draw. the capsule out of the. matrix and deliver it onthe open side. For this purpose. in the Figure ;5 construction there is formed in=the plunger I; a slot 30 in which engages a key;3l, thekey; 3| being bored to receive a screwed 1ocking-.-pin 32 which-passes through a hole, in a guide sleeve 32 for the shaping pistons 5 and 6. It will further-be seen that the elongated slots in the front ends of plungers l and 8;-;also ,accommodatea flange 2| on the sleeve member 32'. Since therefore the shaping pistons 5gand 6 are" also connected to the plungers land Bat 21 and 2 4, the abutment provided by theelon ated slots will limit the forward movement; of the parts 5 and 6 via the connection through the key 3| andsleeveBZC, The plungers I; 8; are, spring loaded by means, ofjsprings 33 housed in drillings 21 in the head piece H and enclosed at their forward ends insleeves 34. When the main forming plunger l-commences to. move. forward, the; plungers 1, 8 and;the sleeves 34 will by reason of the spring loading move forward with it until, as stated above, they are arrested by contact of the ends of the adjustable screwed rods 43 .with the back. plate 44,,at which time the plunger I will pass'through the open mouth indicatedat-BS ofthe matrix'to eject the partly finished but pleated capsule.

In the construction shown in Figure 8 the inner shaping piston 5 isin the form of asleeve having a central bore 2H) toreceive the plunger I and themetal wall of thefsleeve is counterbored -to, provide an annular recess Zllwithin which the. outer shaping piston 6*? isslidably mounted. The baseof thesleeve 5 is drilled for the attachment of the plungers "l and for the passage of the p1ungers8 and in order to ermit of axial displacement of both shaping pistons 5'? and 6 relative to one another and the plunger l slots 2| 3, 2 are cut in each section to receive the cross key 215 carried by the plunger F.

In the Figure 8 construction the plungers Ill are fastened to the back plate B'by screws and there, if "it-isnecessary tohaveaccess to the matrix or plunger for the purpose of clearing a broken capsule or to inspect the knife or to sharpen it,;the matrixplate -9 has to-be unbolted either by 1 unscrewing; the front fixing screws when it can be taken olf completely'or-by means of-the back screwswhen it can be slid forwards on plungers II] to a release positiomcorrcsponm ing to the position in which it is shown in Figures 5, 9, and 10.

To avoid undoing the screws. a quick release mechanism can beprovided; For this purpose the large plungers l0-shown in Figure5 are formed with looking grooves 36 (see Figuresfi, 9 and 10) for co-operating with=key elements 31; of which there are; two slidable in the" backplate-44 (Fig; 5 fast witiia' vertical crossbar 38 spring loaded toward the back plate and attached toa" cam releaselevery39. r i

It will be notedthat thekey elements-31 are slotted as at 40 "to engage; retaining-pins "4-! fto limit the transverse-sliding -movement of keys 31 under action 'of lever 39"pressing againstth-e side ofthe-ba'ck plate. In each of the key ele-= ments 31'are semi-circular cutouts 42' of a" di ameter slightly greater than th'atof plungershlll', which, whenthe lever 35" has beenpdepre'ssed, will bezmoved to a position coincident with the plungers' In so that the' keys 3? are disengaged from the grooves 36. thereby enabling the matrix plate]?! to be drawn forwards away, from the plunger face. At intervals dependentbnlthe capacity and output of the. machine the hard cutting knife l6 willfrequire itsjcutting edge to be regrouncL. Atsuch timesfliti is.necessary to tap up the other and soft..knifefportion.iBffOr which purpose it is-forlned with a. taper .lipQl8ll, which maybe tapped ,up.. To be able to'do this, it .is. necessary to insert. a ,hammer. between the 7 matrix plate 9 and/the knife blade l8.anditap against the taper surface. I sodistorting material inwards tocform. a newc'uttingedge when hard knife I Bnextentrs the sof t ;knife 18. This is rendered possible when the matrixhplate 9 has been moved to its released. position as shown ,in Figure 5, v

With-the machine of this invention where the matrix plate 9xno longer hasQto be. moved clearof the former to permit the removal. of. the pleated capsule, prior to the next pleating opera tion, it is possible to reduce the to andrfro move: ment of the matrix plate-S te a. minimum sufii-r cient to. provide clearance-between the opposed faces of the "matrix and. former, for thepassage of themetal foil strip and forithe stroke of the knife l6 against the stationary knife l8.

By reducing the stroke of the ,moving knife [6 carried by the matrix plate 9, the L-speed' of the latter can be, lowered; with i. consequent greater accuracy of; movement than inthe 1pre+ vious arrangement; wherezthestroke was a mat-. ter ofiseveral inches: The resultisthat theknife isno longer so easily bluntedand-therefore re? quires sharpening-less frequently.:.

Foil supply The foil feed unit comprises ajspindle '45 (Figures I-2) onwhich the roll R, offoil can be mounted. The web L' from roll'R passes between pressure rollers. 46, 4l,"the. upper roller flfioperat ing as the load rolleronto? which/the necessary load is placed by means of ja verticallydisplaceable bridge 48 moved to pressure and release'position bymeans ofa hand lever-49. The lower roller has an embossedsurface and is driven byfl means of a drive-as'here'inafter described. From rollers 46, 41-the webpasses-=through-a lubricating -device; indicated generally-at "5Uf-bewhence "it passes downto a waste chute not shown) Capsule processing unit (2') Table- The table asI-shown in l' igure 'l is mounted on a sleeve a54-free to .revolvepna spindle 53 in the machin head H and receives an intermittent rotation, being stationary -while the completed capsule i delivered by the vformer or plunger l to a zero positioriwhich is indicated in Figures 1 and 6 by ii. Assuming a completed pleated caspule has been deliveredfrom the matrix plate 9 into the pocketi i in the zero position and plunger 1 being withdrawn, thetable will be advanced to bring another empty pocket into the zero position, when the poclz'etcontaining the pleated capsule willv move to position (i); a further advance will move the pocket to position (it) where thecapsule is subjectedto the action of a smoothing ram 55, the function of which is to smooth the corrugations by pres: sure between the ram 55 and a tapered die 5'! (Figure 3).

From the smoothing station (it) the capsule is carried round to th ejection stationindicated at (iii) in Figure 6 where asecond ram 58 is moved forward in synchroni sm with the ram55 to eject the finished capsule onto a chute 59 both rams, as hereinafter described, operating inconjunction with the forming tool e 7 (it) End printing or embossing.When the pleated capsule is delivered by the plunger l at zero position, the capsule is carried in the direction of the arrow Z- (Figure 2) againstanv end stamp die in the form of a plug 6i which is detachably mounted in one end of a'short tube 623 carried by two parallel operating arms 62, 63 of I-section metah As shown in Figures 1, 2, and l each of the'arms E2, 63 is forked as at 64 to cairy a swivel pin 55, about one of which the plug 6| is free to pivot. The lever arms-B2, 63 are mounted upon vertical spindles 61, 68, the arm 53 beingkeyed to the spindle 68 fast to the lower end of which is a lever arm 69, the outer end of arm 68 being forked as at it to ride in a recessed block on an actuating or thrust rod 1 l. The rod H is urged in the direction of the table by means of aspring' l2 and is provided w'itha roller 13 for engagement with a'rotary cam 14, r

the cam 14 being mounted on a shaft 15 driven in timed relation with the table as hereinafter described.

In operation, therefore, the cam 14 is'rotated to withdraw the thrust rod H in direction of arrow X (Figure 3) and thus to swing the lever 6-9 and arms 82, 63 forwardly so as towithdraw th printing or embossing head, when the latter as the cam continues to rotate, will move rearwardly to meet the plunger l carrying the pleated capsule and. thus print or emboss a caption on the end of the capsule. At the moment the plunger plus capsule meets the printing or embossing die, which it does at th point of maxi mum forward movement of the plunger, it will have passed through the die 2 into th empty pocket, indicated at Al in Figure 2, and since the pockets are designed, as hereinafter explained, to hold and grip the capsules, the capsule will be drawn. off the receding plunger and remain in pocket t. When the plunger i has been com-' pletely withdrawn the table T will start to rptat pocket 4- with printed or embossed capsule wi move into position (i) which i nonoperative. he Prentiss fiPfil fiwQl the; {new at position (i) on reaching position (ii) .is in aligmnent'with'thesmoothing ram. i

(iii) Smoothing operationA-Assuming now that the end printed or embossed capsule has reached station (ii), itwill he picked up by the ram 55, which together with ram 58 moves in its troke in direction of' arrow (Figure 3), and moved out of pocket 3' in table T into the smoothing die 51, which is arranged on the discharge side of the table T and in which is mounted an ejection plunger 80, the plunger 80 being slidably mounted in a tubular housing Bl against action of. a' return spring 82. Spring 82 is compressed onthe forward stroke of the ram 55 as the latter forces the corrugated capsule into the smoothing die Bl where the corrugations are flattened.

It will be noted that the smoothing die 51 is formed with lugs 83. The smoothing die is spring loaded to give a certain amount of pressure between the base of the smoothing ram and the die 51, so as to providethe necessary working tolerance for thickness of foil and adjustment of ram.

(iv) Ejection.-Following the smoothing op,- eration, the capsule is returned by the'plunger 80 into the same pocket t in table T, from which it was ejected by ram 55 andas soon'asthe ram 55 has been withdrawn, the table will move forward carrying the smooth, pleated and printed 0r embossed capsule from station (iz') to station (iii) which is immediately above (ii) and where it comes opposite the ejecting ram 58,

The ejecting ram 58 is synchronised 'in its movements with the ram 55 and on the next forward stroke of the thrust rod H and operative movement of arms 62, 63, rain 53 will enter the pocket in table T'to discharge the 'finished capsule into the chute 53. Counting mechanism indicated generaliy'at 13 (Figure 3) may be provided to record each angular'clisplacement of the arm 69 (Figure l) and thus tocount the capsule as they are produced.

(11) Pocket construction -Eachjof the pockets 4 in the table (see Figures l1, 12) is provided with a plurality of, convenientlyfour, resilient arms I15 which are anchored at, the entrance end to each pocket and provided at the other end with radial guide fins I adapted to enter the grooves between adjacent corrugations formed in the capsule. Owing to the. resilient mounting of the fins I16 these will firmly engage the metal wall of the capsule both before and after the corrugations have been flattened at station (it). Furthermore as the plunger I advances the capsule to the die stamp 6| or the ram 55 advances the capsule to the die 51, which movements are through the pocket in direction of arrow Z, the fins will give to compensate for the increasing cross section of the capsule." As the flattened capsule is being returned by the die stamp or by the ejection plunger into the pocket at station (it), the fins will close down and centre the capsule at its top end, whichhas the minimum diameter, in the pocket.

Intermediate the arms are radially arranged blades ll'l which are provided at theirinterior ends with shoulders adapted on withdrawal of the smoothing ram to engage the perimeter ,or base end of the capsule and strip it from the return ram. Likewise at zero station, means are provided for stripping the capsule from the plunger l; and for this purpose the resilient arms l'li-areprovided with radial claws Il8-to engage "cula'r blank from the a worm wheel IIO fast on 'oted at IjI5 to the frame.

Driving mechanism Fastto thewheel W is a gear wheel 9 I meshing with a gear wheel 92 on'a lay shaft'94 (Fi there'is an eccentric95 carrying a connecting rod 96 whose other endis connected to one arm 90 of a three-armed rock lever, mounted to rock abouta spindle I00. The other two arms 99 of the rock lever are pivotally connected at20I 'to links 200, said links themselve being pivotally connected at 202 tolugs 203 on the backplace'll' r'44of the matrix. Thus Witheach'rotation of the sleeve 94' the links 200 will receive a toand fro linear displacement ina horizontal plane and so draw the matrix'plate 9 to the left as seen in Figures 2,5 and 8, that is towards the web L.

During this time, the knife portion I0 on the matrix operates in conjunction with the other half I8"of the blanking'knife to'blank out a cirwebyfoil L and at the same time the back'plate 9' or '44 will move the two setsof rods I and 8 or I and 8 to withdraw the shaping-pistons and-0hr E 'and 6*. Also on the lay'shaft 94 is a'manually operated start and stop 'chitch 103, on part I04 of which is fast on the sleeve 94 while the other part I05 is slidably keyed to "shaft 94 and is controlled by a hand lever I06 (Figure 1) pivotally mounted at I0! on a bracket I08 on the machine bed. On the crank shaft S is a worm gear I09 meshing with a fore and aft spindle I'Ii'I. The spindle 'I I1 is coupled through a flexib'le drive, indicated at II2, to a transmission shaft II3 coupled through a'second flexible drive 4 to tliespindle 75 carrying. the cam '14 actuating the thrust rod TI. This spindle I5 is also provided with other cams Ill and II 6 which actuate the table drive as hereinafter described. On the other end of the fore and aft spindle III is a crank arm I having a crank pin I2I which rides in a'slot I22 in a lever arm I23 piv- On the lever arm I23 is fixedly mounted an adjustable slide block I24 (Fig. 4) provided with a lug, I25 which forms an anchorage fora linkage I26 connected to one arm I21 (see also Figure 2) of a two-armed lever, the other arm I28 of which carries a ratchet pawl I29 forenga'gementwith a ratchet wheel I30. The ratchet wheel I30 is keyed to a ratchet spindle I 3| rotatably mounted in roller bearings 'I3I' carried in brackets on the underside of the machine bed.

Web foil drive Spindle I3I at its forward endcarries a crown wheel I32 in mesh with a bevel wheel. (not 'shown) on a transverse intermittently driven shaft I 33. Shaft I33 at its other end at the right-hand side of the machine has fast on it, a chain Wheel I34 which drives a chain wheel I35 (Figures 2, 3 and 4) driving the foil feed indicated generallyat I36. I 37 (Figures 2 and 3) a e s n whe l a t i l b s en t a iq as n nu be r rota: ops bf; the. W eel?! t e cran 1 Will b caused to rotate through one complet revolution and so cause. the two-armed lever I21, I 28 to rock once up and down, so as to advance the ratchet arm I 29 over a given number of teeth on the ratchet wheel I30 thus causing a given e d isle v l 9 her tche s n le i 31 b; will eeve a 'Ptb r ib s ee o i web foil roll through a distance sufiicient to acblack I42 forming part commodate the width, of one complete. blank It will be ob'viousthat the exac'tamou'nt byl'w h ich the web feed is advanced may beadjusted'by altering the throw of the ratchet pawl I29. This is done by the slide block I24 whoseposition in relation to the centresof worm wheel shaft, -I II andcrank I2 I can be adjusted by the screw I24, on which block I24 is mounted. a I t H On the inside end o f the crankshaft S is a crank wheel I 40(Figures2, 4, andec), having a crank pin I4! which engages a sliding crank v M of a Whitworth type crank arm, and which block serves a an angularly variable means of connection between the crank I 4| and two roek arms I 43, I43 fast on a rock'shaft I45. The two arms I43, I43 Qare coupled by a constant radius drive pin I40, which provides a trunnion mounting for a, crcss head block 14'! slidable in a cros head I49 Iorming part of a main plunger actuating shaft I50 the front end of which is connected to the plunger I. It will thus. be seen that the motion oflthe crank I40, MI is transmitted to shaft I50 through a variable centre. so that dependent on the position of the block I42 in its slide the rate otmoyementof the shaft I 50 will be accelerated or. retarded.

erated from a cam to ive the required recipro cating motion andfa spring loaded 'quickrelturn action employed. Alternatively the cam maybe designed to operate positively on the, return stroke, the 'operativebr capsule forming stroke taking place under the seminar ,thespring. This arrangement, has the. advantage. that it gives some measure oi protectidmfor thejtool, sincethe cam is arranged to give a.positive..return action of spring ,pressure'used for thefforwardstroke (in which the capsule is formed) thereby preventing damage to the tool the event Of jamming, due to portions of rah re.- fmaining in the tool or misalignment of the tool mating sections. V n 1 Intermediate its ends, the shaft I50 is pivotally connected to a horizontal cross IeVerISJ f r m which a to and fro motion is transmitted to the smoothing and ejection rams which rams, by reason of the cross lever, move a distance slightly further than the movement of plunger I into the table pocket, in'order to carry the two rams55, 58 with the capsule thereon, into the smoothing die and into the ejecting tray. Lever I5I is an chored at I52 to an oifset arm I53 fast on the bracketIOB while its freeend is pivoted at I 55 to a member I54 pivotally carriedon a cross arm I56 to the ends of which the rams 55 and 5,0v are anchored by eye pieces 55' and 58' respectively.

It will thus be seen that the movementof each ram is co-ordinated with the ratchet drive to the foil unit, the drive being so arranged that the pawl I 29 is withdrawn to the beginningof its angular displacement, where. it, engages the ratchet-wheel I30 as, the ramsare being with drawn This ensures that the {foil will be fed between the matrix plate and the plunger and shaping pistons while the latter are separated.

, .Table drive Theintermittent rotary drive is taken from the shaft 15 which is constantly revolving. Angular displacement of the table drive sleeve 54 to adgenerally at 260, one arm of the lever carrying a roller 26! for engagement with the camwhile its other arm 262 is pivoted at 263 to an adjustable link 264 carrying a ratchet pawl 265 for engagement with one of five ratchet grooves 266 in a collar 25! fast on the sleeve 54. The lever arm 250 is held against its cam H6 by means of a tension spring I51 anchored to a hook 268 on a bracket 269 on the machine frame and at its other end to the pivot 210 of the ratchet pawl 265. The cam drive is so timed and set that the rise-of thecam H6 comes into operation to rock the lever 26!], and thus causethe ratchet pawl 265 to engage one of the grooves 266 toaclvance the table' one complete station, when the rams and the plunger are withdrawnpreparatory to their next, forward and operative stroke; during which time the capsules in their variousstages of completion are being moved forward from one station to another. iIn order to :lock the-table, and thus hold it vstationary;when it isnot' being rotated, thereis provided ,alocation pawl 21,! normally held by spring plunger deviceZfiZ in engagement with-thelocating slots 7212 in the sleeve 54 corresponding to theglocations of the table, and positively disengaged from slots 212 by a lock release cam '2" I*|- 1 1 Mounted on-the central sectiongllt of the drive to the camspindle"15*ispastopiinger2l9. (Fig. 3) adapted on each revolution ofithe shaft and thus once for each rotarydisplacement of thetablejto enter into a position where it will arrest the movement of :a valve stripping spindle 280 (see Fig.3) which is slidablymount'ed in the interior of thelsmoothing ram 55, The spindle 2,80 atits outer end has a mushroom head 28! constituting a stripper disc andis so 'arrangedmthat as the smoothing ram 55 movesforwardlythe l l ad,v L8,! is closed againsta conicalseating2 82 .in thehead ofthe ram. On thereturn stroke oithe ram 55, l

the stop'finger 219 will have movedinto position where it willenga'ge a-fcollar 2fl3 at the rear end of the spindle280, so" causing therstripper disc orhead 28! to be li-fted-relatively'irom,itsseating and to be held in a positionagainst. or n proximity. tothe" ejection;'plunger BD ther'eby prevent? ing any tenden ypn the 'parthf-the smoothing ram to draw 'b'ack'the. capsule by suction.

I Claim: a. a I .H m, -1. In a machine for making pleated metal'foil capsules, the .combinationuwith a head having a reciprocating former includingac'entral plunger,

at least oneannular shaping piston concentric with. said plunger, .,and, meanst,mountingsaid Qlu gerand aidl h nifie 's on f e iprooation, ore m trix la eameans mbi n nsss 1 matrix plate to, move relatively toward and, away from ai he d, eir x mcunt onatim ttix plate, said matrix having a, central throat extending 'therethrough and being provided 'with'grooves, said plunger and said pistonhaving ribs' adapted v in said mar? nected to said shaping piston for moving said shaping piston into engagement with said matrix and means operatively connected to said plunger adapted to move said plunger into and through said matrix to eject the pleated capsule so formed from said matrix, actuating means operatively connected to said matrix plate adapted. to move said plate toward said head prior to movement of said plunger into said matrix and to move said plate away from said head after formation or said capsule, and cooperating cutting means carried by said head and said matrix plate adapted, upon movement of said plate toward said head to cut blanks from a web of metal foil interposed between said plate and said head.

2. In a machine for making pleated metal foil capsules, the combination with a stationary head having areciprocating former including a central plunger, at least one annular shaping piston concentric with said plunger, means mountin'g said plunger'ior reciprocation, and means mounting said'sha 'iing piston for reciprocation independently of said plunger, of a matrix plate, means mounting saidmatrix plate to move relatively toward andaway from the stationary head, a tubular matrix mounted on said matrix plate, said-matrix having a central throat extending therethrough and being provided with grooves in said throat and around'the entrance thereto, said' plunger and said piston havingribs for cooperation with the grooves in said matrix, a lost motion connection between said piston and said plunger, resilient means'connected to said piston and biasing it toward said matrix, cooperating cutting means carried by said matrix plate and said head adapted, upon movement of said plate toward said head, to cut blanks from a web of metal foil interposed between saidplate and said head, operating means connected to' said matrix 'plate for moving s'aidmatrix plate toward said head, and actuating means operatively connected to said plunger 'for' moving said plunger toward said matrix and thereby enabling said resilient means to move said piston with the moving plunger until said piston is arrested by engagement with a metal foil blank interposed between said former and said matrix thereby to' form a plurality of pleats in said blank by cooperative action of the ribs onsaid piston and the grooves around the entrance of 'said' matrix throat,"said lost motion connectionenablihg said plunger to be moved further by said actuating means through said matrix while said piston remains'arrested to force the pleated blank into the throat of said matrix while ironing thepleats thereof between the ribs of said plungerand the grooves in said throat, and tojejectthe'pleated capsule so formed from saidmatrix, a i 7 3. Ina machine for making pleated metal foil capsules, the combination with a head having a reciprocating former including a central plunger, atleast one annular shaping piston concentric with said plunger, and means mounting said plunger and said shaping-pistonfor reciprocation, of a matrix plate, a matrix carried by said matrix plate and having; central-throat extending therethrough and provided with grooves, means mounting saidmatrix plate to move toward and away from said head, said piston having ribs adapted to cooperate with grooves in said matrix to form pleats in a metal foil blank interposed between Said former and sa c ume rix an i p un e a i i s ed A eh he tqevi s oo'p at ajeutiins;.mans ce riedbysaidniatrix plate *and-saidhead adapted,

upon movement of said plate toward said head, to out blanks from a web of foil interposed between said plate and said head, and actuating means for imparting a reciprocatory motion both to said matrix plate and to said former and including one train of connections for moving said matrix plate away from said head to enable feeding of a web between said former and said matrix, and for moving said matrix plate toward said head to effect operation of said cutting means, and another train of connections for operating said former and comprising means for moving said plunger and shaping piston toward the matrix until the shaping piston is arrested by engagement therewith and for continuing the movement of the plunger through the throat of the said matrix while said piston remains arrested thereby to eject fromsaid matrix a pleated metal foil capsule formed therein.

DENIS EASTHOPE RAILTON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Tietzman June 23, 1908 Huntley Aug. 12, 1924 Ferguson July 6, 1926 Wegner Oct. 22, 1929 Davis Apr. '7, 1931 Conti Oct. 29, 1935 Wiley Dec. 28, 1943 Allen Aug. '7, 1945 Sonnenberg May 6, 1952 Sonnenberg May 26, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain May 12, 1909 

